Here are basic installation and setup instructions for the SilentStepStick stepper motor drivers.
For 3D printers we recommend the TMC2209 SilentStepStick, because they have the best compatibility with simple drivers (such as A4988 or DRV8825) and the most important settings can be made via pins.
Check the pin compatibility and power supply of your mainboard.
Power off everything.
Connect the driver to the mainboard.
Choose the operating mode, in most cases 1/16 stealthChop.
The stealthChop operating mode is nearly silent.
TriGorilla notes: These mainboards set all configuration pins MS1 + MS2 + MS3 to 5V (high/on).
RAMPS / RUMBA / MKS-GEN / GT2560 notes:
These boards have jumpers or switches to set the MS/CFG to on/high (VIO), if the jumpers are set/activated.
TMC2100 SilentStepSticks: If you remove all jumpers for MS1+MS2+MS3, then the TMC2100 driver will be in 1/16 spreadCycle mode (CFG1=GND CFG2=open), because there is a pull-down resistor on MS1/CFG1 on the mainboard. The pull-down is 100k Ohm and in most cases it will set the driver in spreadCycle mode correctly. However if there are problems then short CFG1 to GND or replace the resistor with one which is 30k Ohm or less.
TMC220x SilentStepSticks: If you set the jumpers MS1+MS2 then the TMC220x will be in 1/16 stealthChop mode and with MS3 the TMC2209 can be put into spreadCycle mode.
If you have not an original RAMPS 1.4 or RUMBA or MKS-GEN v1.4 or GT2560 V3 then your schematics can be different and you have to check the MS-Pin configurations on you board.
Power on everything, but do not enable the driver (EN = VIO).
Set the motor current with the potentiometer or via SPI/UART.
Now the driver can be enabled to drive the motor.
Check that the driver does not get to hot and ensure a good air circulation.